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Stress urinary incontinence
Leaking with a cough, a sneeze, a laugh or a run. Common after childbirth and around the menopause, and not a normal part of ageing.
This is one of the conditions women are most likely to accept as inevitable, and one of the most reliably treatable. A large proportion of affected women never raise it with a doctor at all — usually because they assume nothing can be done, or because it feels too trivial to bring up.
Assessment
A history that establishes when the leaking happens and how much it affects you, an examination including the pelvic floor, and a urine test to exclude infection. Where the pattern suggests urgency rather than stress incontinence — or a mixture of the two — that changes the treatment, so it is worth distinguishing carefully.
Treatment, in order
- Pelvic floor physiotherapy — first line, non-invasive, and effective for a great many women when done properly and given enough time
- Lifestyle measures — weight, caffeine, fluid timing and managing constipation, all of which genuinely shift the picture
- Office-based options — including bulking agents for mild to moderate cases
- Mid-urethral sling surgery — where conservative treatment has not been enough
Most women start with physiotherapy, and a good number need nothing further.
Every case is different, and what is right for one woman is not right for another. The purpose of a first appointment is to work out which applies to you. Arrange a consultation.
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Talk it through
A consultation is a conversation first. Nothing is booked in until you want it to be.